After the Frankfurt Assembly failed to achieve German unification in 1848 and 1849, Germans looked to Prussia for leadership in the cause of German unification.
in the course of the 19th century, Prussia had become a strong and prosperous state.
Its government was authoritarian and the Prussian King had control over both the government and army.
Prussia was also well known for its militarism, or reliance on military strength
In the 1860s, King William I tried to enlarge the Prussian army.
When the Prussian legislature refused to levy new taxes for the military changes, William I appointed a new prime minister, Count Otto Van Bismarck.